Device, system, and process for providing real-time short message data services for mission critical communications

ABSTRACT

A wireless device configured to transmit short data messages includes a transceiver configured to transmit and receive the short data messages, at least one sensor configured to detect at least one of a physical parameter, a user input, and a sensor input, and an application configured to encrypt the short data messages and configured to communicate with the at least one sensor. The wireless device further includes a processor configured to control the transceiver and to execute the application, the application is further configured to implement at least one of home security operations, a personal emergency response operations, home automation operations, user location operations, fire alarm operations, vehicle telematics operations, and medical telematics operations, and a computer readable medium to store the application.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit from U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/296,356 filed on Feb. 17, 2016, which is hereby incorporated byreference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to a device, system, and process for transmittingand processing short message data services for mission criticalcommunications. More particularly, the disclosure relates to systems,devices, and methods for transmitting and processing short message dataservices in real-time for mission critical communications.

2. Related Art

Cellular data communications often rely on TCP/IP communications over acore IP Network, which is subject to failures that can delay or preventthe transmission of critical messages. In addition, the transmitting andprocessing of Short Message Services may often require protocols,systems, and networks which do not transmit in real-time and which canbe prohibitively expensive. Moreover, utilization of plain old telephoneservice is typically slower for data transmission. Additionally, plainold telephone service is increasingly not utilized in many households.

More specifically, Short Message Service (SMS) messages and short datamessages may be communicated with TCP/IP communications over a core IPnetwork, which may fail at unacceptable rates. SMS messages also may betransmitted with a “store and forward” technology, and may not betransmitted and received in real-time. While dial-up data serviceexists, consumers may no longer have a home phone which may utilize thisservice. Even for consumers who do use dial-up service, however, thedata connection may take too long to connect and sync. In addition,point-to-point data circuits may be utilized, but those can beprohibitively expensive.

Many devices and/or services rely on data communications to providemission critical communications. Convenience, timeliness, andreliability of the wireless data services are key factors that play intosafety, reliability, and/or a user's experience.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide real-time data communicationsfor devices and services that rely on mission critical communications.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the disclosure,providing a device, system, and method for transmitting and processingshort message data services in real-time.

According to some aspects of the disclosure, a wireless deviceconfigured to transmit short data messages includes a transceiverconfigured to transmit and receive the short data messages, at least onesensor configured to detect at least one of a physical parameter, a userinput, and a sensor input, and an application configured to encrypt theshort data messages and configured to communicate with the at least onesensor. The wireless device further includes a processor configured tocontrol the transceiver and to execute the application, the applicationis further configured to implement at least one of the following: homesecurity operations, personal emergency response operations, homeautomation operations, user location operations, fire alarm operations,vehicle telematics operations, and medical telematics operations, and acomputer readable medium to store the application.

According to some aspects of the disclosure, a process for transmittingshort data messages with a wireless device includes transmitting andreceiving the short data messages with a transceiver, sensing with atleast one sensor at least one of the following: a physical parameter, auser input, and a sensor input, encrypting the short data messages witha processor, communicating with the at least one sensor, implementingwith the processor an application, the application configured toimplement at least one of the following: home security operations,personal emergency response operations, home automation operations, userlocation operations, fire alarm operations, vehicle telematicsoperations, and medical telematics operations, and storing theapplication in a computer readable medium.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain aspects of thedisclosure in order that the detailed description thereof herein may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects ofthe disclosure that will be described below and which will also form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one aspect of the disclosurein detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited inits application to the details of construction and to the arrangementsof the components set forth in the following description or illustratedin the drawings. The disclosure is capable of aspects in addition tothose described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the disclosure. It is important, therefore,that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructionsinsofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned features and aspects of the disclosure will becomemore apparent with reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless device and its associated components, inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates various applications utilizing a cellular signalingsystem which may allow for reliable, real-time transmitting andprocessing of short data messages, in accordance with aspects of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cellular signaling system which may allow forreliable, real-time transmitting and processing of short data messages,in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows the process for transmitting and processing short datamessage services with the cellular signaling system of FIG. 3, inaccordance with aspects of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this specification and in the claims it is to be understood thatreference to a wireless device is intended to encompass electronicdevices such as security systems, alarm systems, home automationsystems, personal emergency response systems, vehicular telematicssystems, child tracking systems, elder tracking systems, medicaltelematics systems, fire alarm and control systems, consumer monitoringsystems, data capturing systems, environmental monitoring systems,infrastructure management monitoring systems, manufacturing systems,energy management systems, medical and healthcare systems,transportation systems, monitoring systems, systems implemented as anInternet of Things, systems benefiting from mission critical datacommunications, systems benefiting from a real-time and datacommunications, mobile phones, controllers, tablet computers, personalcomputers, PDAs, and the like. A “wireless device” is intended toencompass any compatible mobile technology computing device that canconnect to a wireless communication network. A wireless device furtherincludes mobile phones, mobile equipment, mobile stations, userequipment, cellular phones, smartphones, handsets, or the like (e.g.,Apple iPhone, Google Android based devices, BlackBerry based devices,other types of PDAs or smartphones), wireless dongles, remote alertdevices, or other mobile computing devices that may be supported by awireless network. The term “wireless device” may be interchangeably usedand referred to herein as “wireless handset,” “handset,” “mobiledevice,” “device,” “mobile phones,” “mobile equipment,” “mobilestation,” “user equipment,” “cellular phone,” “smartphones,” “monitoringdevice” or “phone.”

Wireless devices may connect to a “wireless network” or “network” andare intended to encompass any type of wireless network to obtain orprovide mobile phone and messaging services through the use of awireless device, such as the Global System for Mobile Communication(GSM) network, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, Long-TermEvolution (LTE) network, 5G (Fifth Generation), and the like that mayutilize the teachings of the present application to transmit and processshort message data services.

Reference in this specification to “one aspect,” “an aspect,” “otheraspects,” “one or more aspects” or the like means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theaspect is included in at least one aspect of the disclosure. Theappearances of, for example, the phrase “in one aspect” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame aspect, nor are separate or alternative aspects mutually exclusiveof other aspects. Moreover, various features are described which may beexhibited by some aspects and not by others. Similarly, variousrequirements are described which may be requirements for some aspectsbut not for other aspects.

One aspect of the disclosure is to use the cellular signaling system totransport real-time short data messages. For example, using GSM Terms,utilize Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services totransmit short data messages between machines. In this regard, thesemessages may be transmitted up to seven times faster than SMS messages,are transmitted in real-time, do not require TCP/IP headers, aretransmitted over a device authenticated, 128 bit secure encryptednetwork, are carrier agnostic, and have a high reliability.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless device 100 and its associatedcomponents. The wireless device 100 may include a transceiver 102, apower supply 104, a computer readable medium 106, a memory 108, aprocessor 110, an operating system 112, an application 114, and thelike. The wireless device 100 may further include in some aspects asubscriber identity module (SIM) card 116, a client 118, an audioinput/output device 120, a display 122, a user interface 124, and thelike.

FIG. 2 illustrates various applications utilizing a cellular signalingsystem which may allow for reliable, real-time transmitting andprocessing of short data messages, in accordance with aspects of thedisclosure. In one aspect, the wireless device 100 may connect to or beoperatively linked to a vehicle to provide vehicular telematicscommunications that may include a global navigation satellite system(GNSS) capability. For example, the wireless device 100 may beassociated with a vehicular telematics system 260 and the wirelessdevice 100 may provide real-time transmitting and processing of shortdata messages, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. Theapplication 114 that is implemented by the wireless device 100 may befurther configured to provide vehicular telematics functionality. Inthis regard, the wireless device 100 and the application 114 areconfigured to implement the vehicle telematics operations. In oneaspect, the wireless device 100 may be operatively linked to a vehicle.In one aspect, the sensor 126 may be configured to detect at least oneof a vehicle location, vehicle safety data, and vehicle security data.The short data messages may include data related to the vehiclelocation, the vehicle safety data, and the vehicle security data.

The wireless device 100 may connect to or be operatively linked to ahome security and communication system having door sensors, windowsensors, motion detectors, and the like. For example, the wirelessdevice 100 may be associated with a home security and communicationsystem 252 and the wireless device 100 may provide real-timetransmitting and processing of short data messages, in accordance withaspects of the disclosure. The application 114 that is implemented bythe wireless device 100 may be further configured to provide homesecurity functionality. In this regard, the wireless device 100 and theapplication 114 are configured to implement home security operations. Inone aspect, the wireless device 100 is a home security system, the shortdata messages may include home security data, and the sensor 126 mayinclude one or more of a door sensor, a window sensor, and a motionsensor.

The wireless device 100 may connect to or be operatively linked to ahome automation system for controlling various systems within a home.For example, a home automation system may employ the wireless device 100to communicate with one or more additional wireless devices 100 and/orwith objects providing sensing, controlling, and/or detecting functions.For example, the wireless device 100 may be associated with a homeautomation system 262 and the wireless device 100 may provide real-timetransmitting and processing of short data messages, in accordance withaspects of the disclosure. The application 114 that is implemented bythe wireless device 100 may be further configured to provide homeautomation functionality. In this regard, the wireless device 100 andthe application 114 are configured to implement the home automationoperations. In one aspect, the wireless device 100 may be a homeautomation system. The short data messages may include home automationdata. The wireless device 100 may be further configured to communicatewith one or more other wireless devices.

The wireless device 100 may connect to or be operatively linked to apersonal emergency response system that provides monitoring for elderlyor infirm individuals that may include a global navigation satellitesystem (GNSS) capability. For example, the wireless device 100 may beassociated with personal emergency response system 268 and the wirelessdevice 100 may provide real-time transmitting and processing of shortdata messages, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. Theapplication 114 that is implemented by the wireless device 100 may befurther configured to provide emergency response functionality. In thisregard, the wireless device 100 and the application 114 are configuredto implement the personal emergency response operations. In one aspect,the wireless device 100 is a personal emergency response system. Thesensor 126 may be configured to receive a user input representing aphysical health emergency. The short data messages may include dataassociated with a physical health emergency.

The wireless device 100 may connect to or be operatively linked to achild tracking system 258 that may include a global navigation satellitesystem (GNSS) capability. For example, the wireless device 100 may beassociated with a child tracking system 258 and the wireless device 100may provide real-time transmitting and processing of short datamessages, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The application114 that is implemented by the wireless device 100 may be furtherconfigured to provide child tracking functionality. In this regard, thewireless device 100 and the application 114 are configured to implementuser location operations. In one aspect the wireless device 100 may befurther configured to track a location of a user. The short datamessages may include location data.

The wireless device 100 may connect to or be operatively linked to anelder tracking system 254 that may include a global navigation satellitesystem (GNSS) capability. For example, the wireless device 100 may beassociated with an elder tracking system 254 and the wireless device 100may provide real-time transmitting and processing of short datamessages, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The application114 that is implemented by the wireless device 100 may be furtherconfigured to provide elder tracking functionality. In this regard, thewireless device 100 and the application 114 are configured to implementuser location operations. In one aspect the wireless device 100 may befurther configured to track a location of a user. The short datamessages may include location data.

The wireless device 100 may connect to or be operatively linked to amedical telematics system 264 that may be configured to monitor medicalequipment and/or a medical condition of individuals. For example, thewireless device 100 may be associated with a medical facility utilizinga medical telematics system 264 and the wireless device 100 may providereal-time transmitting and processing of short data messages, inaccordance with aspects of the disclosure. The application 114 that isimplemented by the wireless device 100 may be further configured toprovide medical telematics functionality. In this regard, the wirelessdevice 100 and the application 114 are configured to implement medicaltelematics operations. In one aspect, the sensor 126 may be configuredto detect medical telematics. The short data messages may includemedical data.

The wireless device 100 may connect to or be operatively linked to afire alarm and control system 256 configured to determine the presenceof fires, smoke, and the like along with a capability to report thesame. For example, the wireless device 100 may be associated with firealarm and control system 256 and the wireless device 100 may providereal-time transmitting and processing of short data messages, inaccordance with aspects of the disclosure. The application 114 that isimplemented by the wireless device 100 may be further configured toprovide fire alarm and control system functionality. In this regard, thewireless device 100 and the application 114 are configured to implementfire alarm operations. In one aspect, the wireless device 100 is a firealarm and the short data messages may include fire alerts that mayinclude fire alerts, smoke alerts, noxious gas alerts, earthquakealerts, and the like.

In one aspect, the wireless device 100 may connect to or be operativelylinked to home items such as appliances, media components, HVAC systems,and the like. The wireless device 100 may be part of an Internet ofThings in which objects and/or locations may be monitored and sensed,and may be in communication with one another and/or with the wirelessdevice 100 and/or other wireless devices. The application 114 that isimplemented by the wireless device 100 may be further configured toprovide functionality consistent with the appliances, components, andsystems.

Returning back to FIG. 1, the transceiver 102 of the wireless device 100can include, for example, a wireless antenna and associated circuitrycapable of data transmission with the mobile data network utilizing atleast one data transmission protocol, such as, for example, 3G, 4G LongTerm Evolution (LTE), 5G, Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO), Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Global Systemfor Mobile Communications (GSM), W-CDMA (Wideband Code-Division MultipleAccess), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a communication channel as defined herein,and/or the like, and/or combinations thereof. The transceiver 102 maytransmit and receive data, such as short message data services,commands, alerts, and the like over the data transmission protocol. Analert may include a fire alert, carbon monoxide alert, intruder alert,personal emergency alert, health alert, vehicle alert, location alert,and the like. The power supply 104 may be a battery such as nickelcadmium, nickel metal hydride, lead acid, lithium ion, lithium ionpolymer, and the like. The power supply 104 may also be wired to a powerreceptacle, transmission line, or the like.

The computer readable medium 106 may be configured to store, forexample, the application 114, phone numbers to automatically call, oraddresses to transmit messages to in case of an alert. For the purposesof this disclosure, the computer readable medium 106 may store computerdata, which may include computer program code that may be executable bythe processor 110 of the wireless device 100 in machine readable form.By way of example, and not limitation, the computer readable medium 106may include computer readable storage media, for example tangible orfixed storage of data, or communication media for transientinterpretation of code-containing signals. Computer readable storagemedia, as used herein, refers to physical or tangible storage (asopposed to signals) and includes without limitation volatile andnon-volatile, removable and non-removable storage media implemented inany method or technology for the tangible storage of information such ascomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, orother data. In one or more aspects, the actions and/or events of amethod, algorithm, or module may reside as one or any combination or setof codes and/or instructions on a computer readable medium 106 ormachine readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computerprogram product.

The display 122 of the wireless device 100 can display variousinformation provided to the display 122 from the processor 110, thecomputer readable medium 106, or the SIM card 116. The screen may be alight-emitting diode display (LED), an electroluminescent display (ELD),a plasma display panel (PDP), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organiclight-emitting diode display (OLED), or any other display technology.

The displayed information can include, for example, text and datamessages, alert messages, confirmation messages, the network connectionstrength, the type of mobile network data connection (such as 3G, 4GLTE, 5G, EVDO, etc.) the wireless device 100 is connected to, and/orother information potentially useful to the user. The information may bedisplayed simultaneously or the user may interact with an input devicesuch as buttons on the wireless device 100 or, if the display 122 is atouch-screen, with the icons on the display 122 to cycle through thevarious types of information for display. The buttons may include one ormore alarm buttons, activation and deactivation buttons, and the like.The display 122 may present text and data messages, confirmationmessages, alert notifications, the network connection strength, and thetype of mobile network data connection simultaneously. Alternatively,the display 122 may only present one type of information, for example,text and data messages corresponding to alerts, monitoring status, andthe like. The display 122 may then present other types of information ifthe user interacts with buttons on the wireless device 100 or, if thedisplay is a touch-screen, with icons on the display 122.

The wireless device 100 may also have the user interface 124 tofacilitate use of the wireless device 100 with an operating system 112.The operating system 112 may be associated with a touchscreencontroller, one or more communications components, one or more graphicscomponents, one or more contact/motion components, and the like.

The memory 108 of the wireless device 100 may be an internal memory or aremovable storage type such as a memory chip. The memory 108 may storeinformation about the wireless device 100, including the default and/orcurrent location. Another information storage type that the wirelessdevice may use is a SIM card 116, which may be configured for use withmachine-to-machine short message data services, emergency callingservices, call-back calls from Public Service Answering Points, and thelike. Additionally, the wireless device 100 may include the audioinput/output device 120 for the input or output of sounds in datamessages, alerts, phone calls, videos, music, and the like.

The processor 110 may be configured to execute the application 114. Theprocessor 110 can be, for example, dedicated hardware as defined herein,a computing device as defined herein, a processor, a microprocessor, aprogrammable logic array (PLA), a programmable array logic (PAL), ageneric array logic (GAL), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD),an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmablegate array (FPGA), or any other programmable logic device (PLD)configurable to execute the application 114 and to facilitate thetransmission of short data messages.

The application 114 may be an electronic application or softwareapplication configured to receive and process short message dataservice. The application 114 may be written in any programming language,such as, for example, C, Java, Objective-C, C+, Python, Visual Basic,Perl, or any other programming language the processor 110 is capable ofexecuting. The types of short message data services managed by theapplication 114 may include home security data and communications,personal emergency response systems, home automation and controls data,vehicular telematics such as vehicle location data, vehicle safety data,and vehicle security data, location tracking data, medical telematicsdata, personal health emergency data, fire alarm and control messaging,and the like.

For security, the short data messages may be encrypted by theapplication 114. Encryption by the application 114 may occur before theshort data message is transmitted to a radio for a carrier network.While some host-encrypted messages may use 64 bit encryption, theapplication 114 may encrypt the short data messages with 128 bitencryption for additional security. The application 114 may also provideadditional radio device authentication security for the carrier network.

The wireless device 100 may also be connected to one or more sensors126. The connection with the one or more sensors 126 may be via acommunication channel 128 or may be wired. The one or more sensors 126may be motion sensors, magnetic sensors, or the like, and may detectalerts which may be communicated to the wireless device 100. Forexample, if a sensor 126 detects a motion alert, the sensor 126 maycommunicate the alert to the wireless device 100, which may communicatethe alert via a data message. In other aspects, other types of sensors126 consistent with other aspects may similarly communicate a datamessage.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the wireless device 100 and the oneor more sensors 126 may be remotely controlled by a remote control 130.The remote control 130 may communicate with the wireless device 100 andthe one or more sensors 126 via the communication channel 128 toactivate or deactivate the wireless device 100, any of the sensors 126,to change settings, and to command the wireless device 100 to transmit adata message. The wireless device 100 may also be remotely controlled bya monitoring service, which could be operated by a user or by one ormore computers. For example, a home security system relying on thewireless device 100 may transmit data and messages to the wirelessdevice 100, may activate or deactivate the wireless device 100, and maycontrol any of the sensors 126 in order to perform security monitoringfunctions and the like.

The short data messages may also use a variety of underlyingtechnologies. For example, the Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM) standard may use Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)protocol. USSD messages may allow for real-time transmission of messagesduring a two-way exchange of data. Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)technology may use a Feature Request (FEATREQ) protocol. Long-TermEvolution (LTE) technology may use USSD using multiple IP Multimedia(IM) Core Network (CN) subsystem IMS. It should be noted that anysimilar protocol providing short data messages is contemplated by thedisclosure as well including any future improvements to the above.

The USSD messages may be up to 182 alphanumeric characters in length.The USSD messages may create a real-time connection during a USSDsession. The connection may remain open, allowing a two-way exchange ofa sequence of data. In one aspect, the USSD messages may utilize USSDPhase 1, as specified in GSM 02.90. In one aspect, the USSD messages mayutilize the core network and the message may be delivered over a MAP(Mobile Application Part). In one aspect, the USSD messages may utilizeUSSD Phase 2, as specified in GSM 03.90. In one aspect, the USSDmessages may utilize a USSD Gateway that may route the USSD messagesfrom a signaling network to a service application and back. In oneaspect a USSD gateway service may be utilized. In one aspect, thegateway may be a collection of hardware and software required tointerconnect two or more disparate networks, including performingprotocol conversion. In one aspect, the USSD may be implemented as asession-based protocol. In one aspect, the USSD messages may travel overGSM signaling channels and may be used to query information and triggerservices consistent with the disclosure. In one aspect, a USSD processestablishes a real time session between mobile handset and applicationhandling the service.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cellular signaling system 200 which may allow forreliable, real-time transmitting and processing of short data messages.The cellular signaling system 200 may include the wireless device 100,one or more carriers 202 with one or more base transceiver stations 204,one or more mobile switch centers 206, one or more regional data centers208, one or more local data centers 210, one or more monitoring stations212, and the like. The one or more monitoring stations 212 may beimplemented in a server as defined herein. The one or more carriers 202may have the one or more base transceiver stations 204 which mayfacilitate communication between the wireless device 100 and thenetworks provided by the carriers 202. The base transceiver stations 204may communicate in a variety of ways, such as with GSM, CDMA, LTE, 5G,Wi-Fi, and the like.

The one or more monitoring stations 212 may have one or moretransceivers to receive and transmit short data messages. The one ormore monitoring stations 212 may also have one or more servers,computers, processors, and the like to process and respond to the shortdata messages. In one aspect, the one or more monitoring stations 212may receive a short data message and determine whether an emergencyauthority should be notified. For example, in the case of a short datamessage communicating a fire alarm, the one or more monitoring stations212 may determine that a fire emergency service should be contacted andnotified of the alert. The one or more monitoring stations 212 maytransmit short data messages to the proper authority or may place aphone call to the proper authority. In another aspect, an operator ofthe one or more monitoring stations 212 may analyze the received shortdata message and may respond by sending a short data message to theproper authority or by calling the proper authority.

The wireless device 100 may be a mobile device, an alarm panel, acontroller, a fire alarm, or the like. The wireless device 100 maywirelessly connect via a communication channel 214 to the one or morecarriers 202. The one or more carriers 202 may connect with one or moremobile switch centers 206. Alternatively, the mobile switch centers 206may be a part of the network of the carrier 202. The one or more mobileswitch centers 206 may be part of one or more network switchingsubsystems and may facilitate call initiation, release, routing of callsand messages, and the like. The mobile switch centers 206 may connect toa public switched telephone network which may be a network ofcircuit-switched telephone networks. The one or more mobile switchcenters 206 may be able to determine the location of the wireless device100 to efficiently route calls and messages.

The one or more mobile switch centers 206 may route calls and messagesbetween one or more regional data centers 208, which may be positionedto route calls and messages between corresponding geographic regionssuch as West, East, Midwest, South, and the like. From the regional datacenters 208, calls and messages may be routed between local data centers210 in a particular state, city, or other locality. The regional datacenters 208 and the local data centers 210 may each have Quad CoreConnectivity or the like with a high-speed processor, a transceiver, oneor more integrated circuits, a location device, and the like.

Phone lines, mobile networks, VOIP, the Internet, and the like maytransmit communication signals to one or more monitoring stations 212.The communication signals may represent alarm signals, and themonitoring stations 212 may be alarm monitoring companies or the likedepending on the kind of message transmitted to/from the wireless device100. The regional data centers 208 and the local data centers 210 maycommunicate with one another and/or with the monitoring stations 212 viaa Virtual Private Network or the like. For example, the wireless device100 may transmit one or more calls and short data messages which can berouted and processed by the cellular signaling system 200, resulting inalerts being received by one or more monitoring stations 212corresponding to the location of the wireless device 100 and/or anyphone numbers stored on the wireless device 100. The monitoring stations212 may receive the short data messages and may respond to anycorresponding alerts. For example, if the short data messagescommunicate a fire alarm, the monitoring stations 212 may alert theproper authority. Monitoring stations 212 may also transmit messages tothe wireless device 100 and/or may generate phone calls in response todetected alerts or malfunctions with the wireless device 100. Forexample, in the case of an intruder alert, the monitoring station 212may generate a phone call to confirm with a resident using the wirelessdevice 100 that the alert is not accidental.

One advantage of the cellular signaling system 200 in FIG. 3 may be thatthe cellular signaling system 200 may be configured to transmit datamessages in real-time. Using GSM terms, for example, the cellularsignaling system 200 may utilize U.S. Satellite Broadcasting services orthe like to transmit the short data messages between the wireless device100 and another device. The short data messages transmitted by thecellular signaling system 200 may be significantly faster to transmitthan SMS messages, for example, at least because they do not requireTCP/IP headers and/or other overhead normally associated with TCP/IPsessions. The short data messages may be transmitted in real-time ratherthan via a store and forward technology, for example, in whichcommunications are transmitted to a station, stored, and transmittedlater to a final destination. Another benefit of the cellular signalingsystem 200 is that the cellular signaling system 200 may use anencrypted network, such as 128 bits or the like. The cellular signalingsystem 200 may also be carrier agnostic, allowing the wireless device100 to communicate with different carriers 202 on a variety of platformsand technologies, such as 2G, 3G, HSPA, HSPA+4G/LTE, 5G, CDMA, and thelike.

The cellular signaling system 200 may also have the ability toprioritize certain types of short data messages, such as critical oremergency messages. Using Control Channel Signaling, the cellularsignaling system 200 may use one or more control channels to transmitcritical short data messages even if voice channels and/or TCP/IP datasessions are unavailable. The control channel used in Control ChannelSignaling may be a separate channel from normal voice or data channels.The control channel may also transmit data representing an establishmentor termination of a connection, and may also transmit caller ormessenger identification, location, and the like. The Control ChannelSignaling used by the cellular signaling system 200 may implementIntegrated Services Digital Networks, Signaling System 7, or othermethods.

FIG. 4 shows the process 300 for transmitting and processing short datamessages with the cellular signaling system 200 shown in FIG. 3. At step302, the application 114 may encrypt the short data message using 128bits or any other type of encryption. At step 304, the wireless device100 may transmit the short data message, using the transceiver 102, tothe carrier 202. The short data message may be related to an alert thathas been detected, such as an intruder or a fire. At step 306, thecarrier 202 may receive the short data message with a secure encryptednetwork using 128 bits or any other number of bits corresponding to theencryption of the short data message. At step 308, the carrier 202 maytransmit a confirmation message to the wireless device 100 confirmingthat the short data message has been received. The confirmation messagemay include a date and time of the transmission, the identifying accountnumber, and the like. If the short data message was not received by thecarrier 202, the confirmation message may indicate a failure. At step310, the carrier 202 may transmit the short data message to a regionaldata center 208. The regional data center 208 may receive the short datamessage and may transmit the short data message to the local data center210 at step 312. Once the local data center 210 has received the shortdata message, the local data center 210 may transmit the short datamessage to the monitoring station 212 at step 314. The monitoringstation 212 may transmit data to the wireless device 100, may notify anyauthorities such a police and fire departments of an alert detected bythe wireless device 100 or the like.

Accordingly, the disclosure as described is directed to a device,system, and process for transmitting and processing short message dataservices for devices utilizing mission critical communications. Thesetwo-way messages can be delivered up to seven times faster than SMScommunications. Wireless TCP/IP sessions and their associated overheadare not required for the messages. The messages can be transmitted evenif voice channels or TCP/IP data sessions are unavailable. The messageshave high security and the messages can be encrypted by the hostapplication before being passed to a radio (PCl/HIPA compliance).

Host encrypted and non-encrypted messages may be transported with radiodevice authentication security and 128 bit encryption. The messages arevery cost effective. According to the disclosure, the messages are fast,cost effective, and highly secure solutions. For example, the disclosureprovides solutions that can meet/exceed National Fire ProtectionAssociation for single communications path consistent with NFPA 72National Fire Alarm And Signaling Code 2013 addition.

Further in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation with dedicatedhardware implementations including, but not limited to PCs, PDAs, SIMcards, semiconductors, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC),programmable logic arrays, cloud computing devices, and other hardwaredevices constructed to implement the methods described herein.

The disclosure may include communication channels that may be any typeof wired or wireless electronic communications network, such as, e.g., awired/wireless local area network (LAN), a wired/wireless personal areanetwork (PAN), a wired/wireless home area network (HAN), awired/wireless wide area network (WAN), a campus network, a metropolitannetwork, an enterprise private network, a virtual private network (VPN),an internetwork, a backbone network (BBN), a global area network (GAN),the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, an overlay network, a cellulartelephone network, a Personal Communications Service (PCS), using knownprotocols such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access), W-CDMA (Wideband Code-DivisionMultiple Access), Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Long TermEvolution (LTE), 5G, EVolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) and/or the like,and/or a combination of two or more thereof.

The disclosure may be implemented in any type of computing devices, suchas, e.g., a desktop computer, personal computer, a laptop/mobilecomputer, a personal data assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a tabletcomputer, cloud computing device, and the like, with wired/wirelesscommunications capabilities via the communication channels.

In an embodiment, the disclosure may be implemented in any type ofmobile smartphones that are operated by any type of advanced mobile dataprocessing and communication operating system, such as, e.g., an Apple™iOS™ operating system, a Google™ Android™ operating system, a RIM™Blackberry™ operating system, a Nokia™ Symbian™ operating system, aMicrosoft™ Windows Mobile™ operating system, a Microsoft™ Windows Phone™operating system, a Linux™ operating system or the like.

It should also be noted that the software implementations of thedisclosure as described herein are optionally stored on a tangiblestorage medium, such as: a magnetic medium such as a disk or tape; amagneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk; or a solid statemedium such as a memory card or other package that houses one or moreread-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or otherre-writable (volatile) memories. A digital file attachment to email orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include a tangiblestorage medium or distribution medium, as listed herein and includingart-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the softwareimplementations herein are stored.

According to an example, the global navigation satellite system (GNSS)may include a device and/or system that may estimate its location based,at least in part, on signals received from space vehicles (SVs). Inparticular, such a device and/or system may obtain “pseudorange”measurements including approximations of distances between associatedSVs and a navigation satellite receiver. In a particular example, such apseudorange may be determined at a receiver that is capable ofprocessing signals from one or more SVs as part of a SatellitePositioning System (SPS). Such an SPS may comprise, for example, aGlobal Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, Glonass, to name a few, or anySPS developed in the future. To determine its location, a satellitenavigation receiver may obtain pseudorange measurements to three or moresatellites as well as their positions at time of transmitting. Knowingthe SV orbital parameters, these positions can be calculated for anypoint in time. A pseudorange measurement may then be determined based,at least in part, on the time a signal travels from an SV to thereceiver, multiplied by the speed of light. While techniques describedherein may be provided as implementations of location determination inGPS and/or Galileo types of SPS as specific illustrations according toparticular examples, it should be understood that these techniques mayalso apply to other types of SPS, and that claimed subject matter is notlimited in this respect.

Additionally, the various aspects of the disclosure may be implementedin a non-generic computer implementation. Moreover, the various aspectsof the disclosure set forth herein improve the functioning of the systemas is apparent from the disclosure hereof. Furthermore, the variousaspects of the disclosure involve computer hardware that it specificallyprogrammed to solve the complex problem addressed by the disclosure.Accordingly, the various aspects of the disclosure improve thefunctioning of the system overall in its specific implementation toperform the process set forth by the disclosure and as defined by theclaims.

Aspects of the disclosure may include a server executing an instance ofan application or software configured to accept requests from a clientand giving responses accordingly. The server may run on any computerincluding dedicated computers. The computer may include at least oneprocessing element, typically a central processing unit (CPU), and someform of memory. The processing element may carry out arithmetic andlogic operations, and a sequencing and control unit may change the orderof operations in response to stored information. The server may includeperipheral devices that may allow information to be retrieved from anexternal source, and the result of operations saved and retrieved. Theserver may operate within a client-server architecture. The server mayperform some tasks on behalf of clients. The clients may connect to theserver through the network on a communication channel as defined herein.The server may use memory with error detection and correction, redundantdisks, redundant power supplies and so on.

While the device, system, and method have been described in terms ofwhat are presently considered to be specific aspects, the disclosureneed not be limited to the disclosed aspects. It is intended to covervarious modifications and similar arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accordedthe broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modificationsand similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and allaspects of the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system configured to transmit short datamessages, the system comprising: a wireless device; a monitoringstation; a data center; the wireless device comprising: a transceiverconfigured to transmit the short data messages to a wireless network,the wireless network configured to route the short data messages to thedata center, and the short data messages comprise short data messagesother than Short Message Service (SMS) messages; at least one sensorconfigured to detect at least one of the following: a physicalparameter, a user input, and a sensor input; a processor configured tocontrol the transceiver and to execute an application; the processorfurther configured to execute the application to encrypt the short datamessages and to communicate with the at least one sensor; the processorfurther configured to execute the application to implement at least oneof the following: home security operations, personal emergency responseoperations, home automation operations, user location operations, firealarm operations, vehicle telematics operations, and medical telematicsoperations; the processor further configured to execute the applicationand monitor the at least one sensor to generate data comprising at leastone of the following: home security data, data associated with aphysical health emergency, home automation data, vehicle related data,location data, medical data, and fire alert data; the transceiverfurther configured to transmit the short data messages to the wirelessnetwork with the data from the processor and the wireless networkconfigured to route the short data messages to the data center with thedata from the processor; a computer readable medium to store theapplication; the data center configured to route the short data messagesfrom the wireless network to the monitoring station; and the monitoringstation configured to monitor at least one of the following: the homesecurity operations, the personal emergency response operations, thehome automation operations, the user location operations, the fire alarmoperations, the vehicle telematics operations, and the medicaltelematics operations; a remote control configured to communicate withthe wireless device and the sensor, wherein the remote control isconfigured to activate and deactivate the sensor; wherein the remotecontrol is configured to command the wireless device to transmit theshort data messages to the data center; wherein the wireless device isconfigured to be controlled by the monitoring station; wherein thetransceiver is further configured to transmit and receive the short datamessages utilizing at least one of the following: a Global System forMobile Communications standard Unstructured Supplementary Service Dataprotocol, and a Long-Term Evolution Unstructured Supplementary ServiceData protocol using a multiple IP Multimedia Core Network subsystem;wherein the short data messages comprise Unstructured SupplementaryService Data messages that create a real-time connection during anUnstructured Supplementary Service Data session; wherein theUnstructured Supplementary Service Data messages utilize at least one ofthe following: an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data Phase 1 asspecified in GSM 02.90 and an Unstructured Supplementary Service DataPhase 2 as specified in GSM 03.90; and wherein the data center isfurther configured to route the short data messages to the monitoringstation via a Virtual Private Network.
 2. The system of claim 1, whereinthe application is configured to implement the home security operations;wherein the wireless device is a home security system; wherein the shortdata messages comprise the home security data; and wherein the at leastone sensor is at least one of the following: a door sensor, a windowsensor, and a motion sensor.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein theapplication is configured to implement the personal emergency responseoperations; wherein the wireless device is a personal emergency responsesystem; wherein the at least one sensor is configured to receive theuser input representing a physical health emergency; and wherein theshort data messages comprise the data associated with the physicalhealth emergency.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the application isconfigured to implement the home automation operations; wherein thewireless device is a home automation system; wherein the short datamessages comprise the home automation data; and wherein the wirelessdevice is further configured to communicate with one or more otherwireless devices.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the application isconfigured to implement the vehicle telematics operations; wherein theshort data messages comprise the vehicle related data; and wherein thewireless device is operatively linked to a vehicle.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect atleast one of a vehicle location, vehicle safety data, and vehiclesecurity data, and wherein the short data messages comprise the vehiclerelated data comprising at least one of the vehicle location, thevehicle safety data, and the vehicle security data; wherein thetransceiver is further configured to transmit and receive the short datamessages utilizing the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data protocol;and wherein the short data messages are configured to comprise up to 182alphanumeric characters.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein theapplication is configured to implement the user location operations;wherein the wireless device is further configured to track a location ofa user; and wherein the short data messages comprise the location data.8. The system of claim 1, wherein the application is further configuredto implement the medical telematics operations; wherein the at least onesensor is configured to detect the medical data; and wherein the shortdata messages comprise the medical data.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein the application is configured to implement the fire alarmoperations; and wherein the wireless device is a fire alarm and theshort data messages comprise the fire alert data.
 10. A process fortransmitting short data messages between a wireless device, a datacenter, and a monitoring station, the process comprising: transmittingshort data messages with a transceiver to a wireless network, thewireless network configured to route the short data messages to the datacenter, and the short data messages comprise short data messages otherthan Short Message Service (SMS) messages; sensing with at least onesensor at least one of the following: a physical parameter, a userinput, and a sensor input; encrypting the short data messages with aprocessor; communicating with the at least one sensor with theprocessor; implementing with the processor an application, the processorexecuting the application to implement at least one of the following:home security operations, personal emergency response operations, homeautomation operations, user location operations, fire alarm operations,vehicle telematics operations, and medical telematics operations;storing the application in a computer readable medium; monitoring the atleast one sensor with the processor executing the application andgenerating data comprising at least one of the following: home securitydata, data associated with a physical health emergency, home automationdata, vehicle related data, location data, medical data, and fire alertdata; transmitting with the transceiver the short data messages to thewireless network with the data from the processor and the wirelessnetwork configured to route the short data messages to the data centerwith the data from the processor; and routing the short data messagesfrom the data center to the monitoring station, implementing a remotecontrol configured to communicate with the wireless device and thesensor, wherein the remote control is configured to activate anddeactivate the sensor; wherein the remote control is configured tocommand the wireless device to transmit the short data message to thedata center; wherein the wireless device is configured to be controlledby the monitoring station; wherein the monitoring station is configuredto monitor at least one of the following: the home security operations,the personal emergency response operations, the home automationoperations, the user location operations, the fire alarm operations, thevehicle telematics operations, and the medical telematics operations;wherein the transmitting with the transceiver further comprisestransmitting and receiving the short data messages utilizing at leastone of the following: a Global System for Mobile Communications standardUnstructured Supplementary Service Data protocol, and a Long-TermEvolution Unstructured Supplementary Service Data protocol using amultiple IP Multimedia Core Network subsystem; wherein the short datamessages comprise Unstructured Supplementary Service Data messages thatcreate a real-time connection during an Unstructured SupplementaryService Data session; wherein the Unstructured Supplementary ServiceData messages utilize at least one of the following: an UnstructuredSupplementary Service Data Phase 1 as specified in GSM 02.90 and anUnstructured Supplementary Service Data Phase 2 as specified in GSM03.90; and wherein the data center is further configured to route theshort data messages to the monitoring station via a Virtual PrivateNetwork.
 11. The process of claim 10, wherein the application isconfigured to implement the home security operations; wherein thewireless device is a home security system; wherein the short datamessages comprise the home security data; wherein the at least onesensor is at least one of the following: a door sensor, a window sensor,and a motion sensor.
 12. The process of claim 10, wherein theapplication is configured to implement the personal emergency responseoperations; wherein the wireless device is a personal emergency responsesystem; wherein the at least one sensor is configured to receive theuser input representing a physical health emergency; and wherein theshort data messages comprise the data associated with the physicalhealth emergency.
 13. The process of claim 10, wherein the applicationis configured to implement the home automation operations; wherein thewireless device is a home automation system; wherein the short datamessages comprise the home automation data; and wherein the wirelessdevice is further configured to communicate with one or more otherwireless devices.
 14. The process of claim 10, wherein the applicationis configured to implement the vehicle telematics operations; whereinthe short data messages comprise the vehicle related data; and whereinthe wireless device is operatively linked to a vehicle.
 15. The processof claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect atleast one of a vehicle location, vehicle safety data, and vehiclesecurity data, and wherein the short data messages comprise the vehiclerelated data comprising at least one of the vehicle location, thevehicle safety data, and the vehicle security data; wherein thetransceiver is further configured to transmit and receive the short datamessages utilizing the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data protocol;and wherein the short data messages are configured to comprise up to 182alphanumeric characters.
 16. The process of claim 10, wherein theapplication is configured to implement the user location operations;wherein the wireless device is further configured to track a location ofa user; and wherein the short data messages comprise the location data.17. The process of claim 10, wherein the application is furtherconfigured to implement the medical telematics operations; wherein theat least one sensor is configured to detect the medical data; andwherein the short data messages comprise the medical data.
 18. Theprocess of claim 10, wherein the application is configured to implementthe fire alarm operations; and wherein the wireless device is a firealarm and the short data messages comprise the fire alert data.
 19. Asystem configured to transmit short data messages, the systemcomprising: a wireless device; a monitoring station; a data center; thewireless device comprising: a transceiver configured to transmit theshort data messages to a wireless network, the wireless networkconfigured to route the short data messages to the data center, and theshort data messages comprise short data messages other than ShortMessage Service (SMS) messages; at least one sensor configured to detectat least one of the following: a physical parameter, a user input, and asensor input; a processor configured to control the transceiver and toexecute an application; the processor further configured to execute theapplication to encrypt the short data messages and to communicate withthe at least one sensor; the processor further configured to execute theapplication to implement fire alarm operations; the processor furtherconfigured to execute the application and monitor the at least onesensor to generate data comprising fire alert data; the transceiverfurther configured to transmit the short data messages to the wirelessnetwork with the data from the processor and the wireless networkconfigured to route the short data messages to the data center with thedata from the processor; a computer readable medium to store theapplication; the data center configured to route the short data messagesfrom the wireless network to the monitoring station; and the monitoringstation configured to monitor the fire alarm operations, a remotecontrol configured to communicate with the wireless device and thesensor, wherein the remote control is configured to activate anddeactivate the sensor; wherein the remote control is configured tocommand the wireless device to transmit the short data message to thedata center; wherein the wireless device is configured to be controlledby the monitoring station; wherein the transceiver is further configuredto transmit and receive the short data messages utilizing at least oneof the following: a Global System for Mobile Communications standardUnstructured Supplementary Service Data protocol, and a Long-TermEvolution Unstructured Supplementary Service Data protocol using amultiple IP Multimedia Core Network subsystem; wherein the short datamessages comprise Unstructured Supplementary Service Data messages thatcreate a real-time connection during an Unstructured SupplementaryService Data session; and wherein the Unstructured Supplementary ServiceData messages utilize at least one of the following: an UnstructuredSupplementary Service Data Phase 1 as specified in GSM 02.90 and anUnstructured Supplementary Service Data Phase 2 as specified in GSM03.90.